Measuring spoon



J. G. WEILAN D Oct. 2, 1951 MEASURING SPOON Filed Jan. 27, 1951 FIG. I

FIG. 2

FIG. 4

FIG. 3

FIG. 5

IN VEN TOR.

BY Jam Q a/nla/m' Patented Oct. 2, 1951 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEASURING SPOON Jerome G. Weiland,;Evanston, 111. Application January 27, 1951, Serial No. 208,113

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for kitchen use. I provide an improved measuring spoon for the measurement of liquid and granular or powdered material and the like, for instance, water, milk, sugar, salt, flour, etc., and also for the measurement of pasty materials and the like, for instance lard, butter, margarine, etc., in such quantities as are usually handled by measuring spoons.

Measuring spoons for each of these types of materials are well known. However, devices of .jects are attained by the new, improved measuring spoon in accordance herewith.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a top view, Figure 2 a side View and Figure 3 an end view of the device. Figure 4 is a side view of the scraper forming part of the device, on an enlarged scale, and Figure 5 is a section through the same along lines 5-5.

The device consists entirely of two simple parts, identified as the receptacle I and the scraper I I.

The receptacle I 0 has an elongated troughshaped body or wall I2, shown as semicylindrical on the outside and defining a hollow space I3 of similar form on its inside. The top I4 of the receptacle is open. A partition I extends transversely across the hollow space I3 between the two ends; preferably about half way between the ends. One of these ends is closed by an end wall I6, leaving the top I4 open. The end wall I6 may be rounded; it is shown, for instance, as a quadrant of a sphere. The opposite end of the receptacle is open. At this open end of the receptacle, wall I2 ends preferably in a plane at right angles with the axis of the trough or cylinder.

Salt and other spices are usually required in very small amounts, such as a quarter or half teaspoonful, while sugar and the like is often measured by teaspoonfuls or tablespoonfuls.

Therefore I show the closed-end portion of the receptacle provided with additional transverse partitions I I, defining a number of chambers in the hollow space I3. The chamber I8 directly adjoining the end wall I6, when filled and levelled off the top may hold a quarter of a level teaspoonful. The next following chamber I9,

while being different in shape, may be identical in volume, thereby defining one half Of a lever teaspoonful by chambers I8 and I9 together. Next there is shown a chamber 20 which should hold another half teaspoonful, thus defining one teaspoonful by the first three chambers together. Another chamber 2I will usually follow, which is twice as large as the first three chambers together, sothat the four chambers together define tablespoonful. Of course, more or fewer partitions can be provided instead, and they can be arranged to define fractions or multiples of a fluid ounce, dram, gill, millimeter or the like. The general idea is that the closed-end portion of the receptacle is divided into chambers the volumes of which are multiples of one another.

In kitchen use, materials are measured by heaping teaspoonfuls. This kind of measurement is merely approximate but it is important to provide for it in a measuring device for this particular use. This can be achieved, in manner obvious upon consideration hereof, by suitable dimensioning of the different chambers in the receptacle.

Level spoonfuls are equally important kitchen use, and are usually regarded as a more exact measurement. When granular or powdered materials are to be measured the scraper II will serve for levelling off to the top I4. A heaping spoonful will first be scooped up with the receptacle and the scraper canthen be used to remove the excess material. For this purpose the scraper is moved along the top I4 of the receptacle, in close contact therewith. This, again, is facilitated by the form of this top, as shown, wherein the upper edges of the end wall I6, body I2, and partition I5, I6 are level with one another. The operation of the scraper is made particularly easy by the feature that the trough-shaped receptacle has a depth. as indicated; the entire travel of the scraper can be made so short as to make it convenient to obtain any desired position with a single stroke, actuating the scraper with the thumb of the hand which holds the receptacle.

The scraper II also serves to uncover just so much of the chambers I6 to 2| as is required for each measurement, and to cover the remainder. For easy manipulation of the device, with some of the chambers covered, I provide an arrange ment whereby the scraper and cover is firmly held to the top of the receptacle, and accurately indexed with the proper partition I I. For this purpose, and also in order to hold the two parts together when not in use, I provide the scraper H with two flanges 22; one depending from each side. The body 23 of the scraper is generally flat and rectangular, suificiently elongated to cover the length of the closed-end portion of the receptacle, and wide enough to cover the width of the open top H! of the receptacle. The flanges 22 are adapted to engage the outside of the semicylindrical generally trough-shaped receptacle, in an inward and *at least slightlyupward direction. Forthis 'purpose the flanges 22 may be slightly curved inwards as shown, and they depend over one half of the depth of the receptacle. In order to register with the partitionsdividing the different chambers, the scraper has on the insides of the flanges 22 raised'poittions 24, fitting into depressed portions formed the outside of the wall I2 and spaced along the same. vOf :course the position of the raised and;

el ierea aria serapeeeerb a pusher e' teesien 21, crependmgjrrom the end of the body '23 of the scraper. This pusher extension has suitably curved edges 28, whe'reby is able re scrape the 4 Of course various other manufacturing methods can be substituted.

Equally the details of form and arrangement part er the body of the receptacle will still be made in form of a trough, with parallel sides,

order to provide proper engagement with the flanges 22 of the scraper l l. Various other modific'aitions are possible. I claim:

'1.-;h. measuring spoon for kitchen use, consisting of a receptacle and acombined cover,

' scraper pusher; the receptacle consisting inside of the semiey mdrieei o'r trough-shaped went:intniepereen gs; H M In order to "measure the pasty materials with reasonable eeeure'e I refer to make the edge er the receptacle 'w'all l2 rela'tively sharp at the open end, as shown at 29, thereby preventing irregular scooping uper lard and other shorten- Iin 'a The e. e ge oi re e e e n the t b nde re b tt ma e alimtot et they may notchip 01f easily due to the wear and tear imposed whenthe scraper II is movedalongthe top, with granular materials tendingto become trapped between the scraper and the edges in question. e

Additional depressions, or notches in the receptacle. wall I2 will allow the measuring out .of a-mere fraction of the amount of pastedefined by the open end chamber 26. In the arrangement as "shown the total amount equals one tablesp'oonful.

The isc'r'ap'er II can be shifted back and forth 'byafthu'r'nb rest 3!, or by a ridged top portion "32, or 'both. In order to prevent it frombecomin'g misaligned with the to 1"4 I provide the scraper with narrow side flanges 33, preferably 'Tsemb'ling, disassembling and cleaning is a very siinple task, no tools being required and all surfaces being easily accessible.

I prefer to mold both-parts J0 and H from suitable plastics The shape of the device as shown and described facilitates the molding process; extremely simple cavities-are sufficient.

of the receptacle.

of a hollow, generally trough-shaped body, closed at one end and open at the opposite end, with anintegral, transverse partition approximately and pusher consisting of a generally long enough to ste the closed 'end o'r'tionjof uie re'eeptede and wide enough to width urereer navmg integral'fia'nges at th sides, which are adapted to"engag Ttheutside of the receptacle so -as to hold the I parts to:- g'thr while allowing them to "be inoved rig one anothenand also having an integral, t -nsv rs effi 'ii i dri x es .i f t e. at ;9 12 b y bq sc apin ent r? with 'thai ri ile ea ie le he we neth ;Part n..a d. the Qne n w reby w :end t h =q e ra er ea P e S QPPQQJQ S en q rthe. t 13 1 e edeen j n 9 the. ce acle to, l Y granular land powdered materials and the lilre,

and. t ten Qn s a pt to u h hasty m teri-al and the like 'out of the open-end portion 2. A measuring spoon as described in claim wherein the receptacle additionally pomprises .further transverse partitions in the closed-end wp'ortion, dividing said portion into chambers :the

volumes of which are multiples of one another;

,all top ed es of receptacle walls and partitions being level withone another. a

3. A measuring spoon as described in claim 2,

.wherein the insidesof the flanges of the scraper and the outside of thereceptacle are additionally provided. Withmutually registering, raisedfiand depressed portions, longitudinally spaced along the device in positions corresponding with those of the further partitions.

- ,4. A measuring spoon :asdescribed in claimfl, 

